Game Within Game: Raffi Torres finished off his ex-mates

San Jose Sharks left wing Raffi Torres (13) celebrates his game-winning goal over the Vancouver Canucks with centre Joe Thornton (19) and defenceman Brent Burns (88) in game two of an NHL Western Conference quarter-final playoff hockey series at Rogers Arena in Vancouver on Friday, May, 3, 2013.

Photograph by: Jonathan Hayward
, THE CANADIAN PRESS

THREE STARS

ONE – Ryan Kesler, Canucks. Best player on ice despite disheartening loss. Two goals, seven hits, 19-for-29 on draw.

TWO – Brent Burns, Sharks. Blocks shot and then beautifully sets up OT winner. Two assists, plus-2, two hits.

THREE – Raffi Torres, Sharks. Overtime hero, plus-2, four shots.

PIVOTAL POINT – With the Canucks leading 2-1 and trying to hang on for the win, Jannik Hansen missed the empty net with Antti Niemi on the bench for the extra attacker and it came back to haunt the Canucks as Patrick Marleau sent the game to overtime, tapping home his own rebound with 55.1 seconds left. Raffi Torres then finished off his ex-mates in the extra period.

BY THE NUMBERS – During the regular season, the Sharks were 20-3-2 when scoring first, 14-2-1 when leading after one and 15-1-2 when leading after two. You can add another one to the win column in each category... The Canucks have lost six straight playoff games on home ice and are a truly absymal 2-10 in their last 12 playoff outings date back to Game 4 of the 2011 Stanley Cup final... The Canucks announced another sellout, their 433rd straight.

DID YOU NOTICE? On the Sharks' opening goal by Joe Thornton, Ryan Kesler cleanly won the draw back to safety in the left corner but the Sharks promptly out-battled the Canucks for possession, pushed the puck back to Brad Stuart for a point shot and scored on the rebound.

IN THE CIRCLE – The Canucks finally managed to win the faceoff battle, 37-34, led by Kesler and Henrik Sedin, who was 12-for-20. Joe Thornton had an off-night for the Sharks, going 9-for-25.

HIT PARADE – The Canucks outhit the Sharks again, this time by a whopping 45-27 margin. Two of their bigger ones were Dan Hamhuis on Dan Boyle and Ryan Kesler on Justin Braun just as second period expired. Hamhuis finished with five hits, as did Max Lapierre.

MARTY WHO? After video evidence emerged showing Canuck defenceman Kevin Bieksa's stick making contact with Shark forward Marty Havlat's groin area in Game 1, the play in which Havlat was believed to have been injured, Bieksa said Friday morning he recalled nothing. “I don't remember,” said Bieksa. “Havlat? I don't know. I'm not shocked you asked me a question that I have no idea what you're talking about. I'll have to watch it and see.” Havlat played only 3:16 in Game 1 and didn't dress for Game 2. Sharks coach Todd McLellan offered up nothing to reporters. “Marty's not playing and that's all that's important.”

CORY BACK ON ICE – Canuck netminder Cory Schneider, who was not considered healthy enough to back up Friday night, was on the ice in the morning, taking shots from Black Aces Keith Ballard, Cam Barker, Tom Sestito and Steve Pinizzotto. Schneider was not made available to the media for a third straight day, leaving coach Alain Vigneault to remark: “He's on the ice ice with four guys. He's day-to-day.” Asked if Schneider would travel with the the team to San Jose, AV replied: “Not sure.”

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San Jose Sharks left wing Raffi Torres (13) celebrates his game-winning goal over the Vancouver Canucks with centre Joe Thornton (19) and defenceman Brent Burns (88) in game two of an NHL Western Conference quarter-final playoff hockey series at Rogers Arena in Vancouver on Friday, May, 3, 2013.

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